BIG FIRES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12176, 27 November 1917, Page 8

BIG FIRES.

♦ SOME DISASTROUS CONFLAGRATIONS.

In view of the epidemic of fires prevailing in the Dominion the following article from "Tit Bits" is of interest: —

The extraordinary conflagration at, Salonika, which has rendered nearly I0O;0O0 persons homeless, and has done damage estimated at £40,000,000, calls to mind a. number of other big fires. Never since the burning of South Chicago., in 1872, has such a, destructive lire occurred. The Chicago conflagration was caused by a, cow, which was being > milked, kicking over a. kerosene lamp, which the« exploded, and, scattering the burning oil, set tire'.-to some hay and straw. In nineteen hours from the time of the cow kicking over the lamp, the conflagration had destroyed 4000 acres, or over six square miles, containing 18,400 buildings and the homes of over 100,000 persons. Damage was done to the extent of nearly £60,000,000! The most destructive fire that has occurred in London since the memorable "(treat Fire" was that which broke out in Tooley Street, and ccrtvtinued burning for a month. Over twenty persons lost, their lives, and the damage was estimated at over £2.000.000': , The year 1882 has been described as •'the year of fires," and the Wood Street fire, which broke out on December 18 >*' as probably the biggest of them all. It burned for forty-eight hours, and property to the. value, of £2.000,000 was destroyed. In the same year Whiteley's, in Westbourne Grove, was the scene of two fires, one occurring or. November 17, when property to ttho value of £IOO.OOO was destroyed.

A remarkable firp vas 1 bat. which took place in Queen Victoria Strict on December 30, 1800. The weather was terribly (he firemen became encased from helmet to boots in coats of glass-like mail, the sprays from the. nozzles ouiokly turning to ice. Next morning the ruins presentpd a, most picturesque appearance, being coated with millions of icicles. At the St Mary Axe fire of 1893 damage was done to tbe "extent, of £2oo.<W>.

At I>undee occurred the biggest' fire which lias devastated any British city outside London in recent years- In July, 1906, fire broke out at the (mormons bonded spirit stores of Messrs, •Tames. Watson, Ltd. For three days and niVht* the firemen fought' desperate! v against the blading; flames, but in vair.T The fire worked its way to the. aront. blending vat, where it lapped up TWO gallons of whisky. The Haze resembled a volcanic eruption, and eon id be seen for thirty miles around.

then there Avas tin Brussels calamity in 1010. which was so sudden that the whok of the Exhibition was in flam or, before nnvlhine could he done to fa.ve it This'conflagration resulted in the of £4.000.000.

Another big blaze was seen at the burning of San Francisco after the> earthquake in 1900. When it is considered that an area of nearly five miles long of thickly-populated buildings was laid in ashes, and. the money lost was nearly £40.000.000, it seems a perfect miracle that the loss of life was only about 100.